Tourism players fear one more jolt to tourism sector

SHABIR AHMAD. Dated: 2/20/2013 11:10:59 PM

‘40 percent bookings cancelled since last week’

SRINAGAR, Feb 20: The people associated with tourism fear major decrease in tourist arrival in Kashmir after the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru.
President, tour and travel agents association Kashmir (TAAK), Rauf Tramboo talking to Kashmir times said that the tension that erupted in the valley after the hanging of Guru has already started telling upon the tourism sector. “Due to few days of curfew and shutdowns in the valley following the hanging of Guru at least 40 percent tourist both domestic and foreigners have cancelled their bookings. Besides the cancellation of bookings other intending travelers have also changed their minds,” said Tramboo.
He said that any long unrest in the valley may badly affect tourist sector this year. “The central government should return the body of Afzal to his family to prevent another unrest in the valley. The tourism players of the valley strongly support the demand and urge the central government not to trigger another unrest which will badly hit the tourism industry than any other sector,” Tramboo said.
An owner of the A-class hotel in Pahalgam, wishing anonymity said that everybody including the government at the centre and state government knows any unrest in the valley will create a sense of fair among the intending tourists. “Hurriyat leaders have already warned of agitation if the body of Guru is not returned to Kashmir. So central government should settle the issue once for all,” the hotelier.
Tourism minister, G A Mir, also seconded the views of the tourism players saying only a week long tension in the valley has proved to be a bigger jolt on the tourism.
“The uneasiness in the valley over a week has led to huge losses already. So it is obvious that if unrest lengthens it will have a very bad impact on the tourism sector,” minister said.
On the warnings of agitation by the pro-freedom leaders in case the central government does not return the body of Afzal Guru, Mir said, “I have already conveyed my apprehensions and fears to the chief minister.”

 

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